Former President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that he will make known his next political move after the national mourning period is over.
Mr Banda told scores of his supporters at the Magistrate Court in Lusaka today that he will reveal whether he will return to politics or not after the mourning period is closed.
He said now is not the right time to do or talk about any politics as a mark of respect for late President Michael Sata.
Mr Banda said he is devastated to see a life less body of President Sata whom he knew as an active politician.
The former Head? of State has appealed to Zambians to mourn President Sata with honour and dignity.
Mr? Banda said he has consulted widely and he will make known his intentions soon.
Please stay at home and be an elder that you are!
@Prince. Very true. My thoughts as well.
Moreover his wife Thandiwe has cancer. He should concentrate on his wife’s healthy as well as on his own.
I am praying and fasting that Rupiah stays away from politics. He has already contributed to the national development and as a statesman he should be, it’s a privilege he should enjoy in retirement. Zambians will not accept that Rupiah starts to use taxpayers’ money on endless trips around the world seeking medical treatment for his wife (she has cancer, by the way) and his knee problem, remember the regular trips to SA? We don’t want Nkwazi House to continue being sick quarters!
To be honest, RB won’t be a bad choice between February 2015 and September 2016. That will be his second term and then we usher in fresh leadership. The problem is on which party ticket?
@ Mr Banda,if you really love your wife,stay away from this comeback nonsense and stay by her side as she endures this cancer sad story,even though we know that you love money and popularity .
@MM…. please, it’s NOT healthy but health!
People like you make reading blog posts confusing.
Nevertheless, the big man must continue resting. It may help prolong his life. His time is past.
Learn from Mr Nelson Madiba Mandela sir.
Right now you are an icon please, remain as one. If you come back into politics, you will be bruised and may risk losing the status of respect that you have already been accorded.
Like @Mushota would say, THANK YOU!
I think the online community has given its verdict on RB and if this is a measure in anyway of the sentiments of the ordinary Zambian then RB needs to heed this response.
I personally think that there is too much turmoil in the nation and we need some leadership qualities that will stabilise the boat for the remaining two years of the current term. I would argue that there is no better candidate for this than the “Statesman” we have in RB. But that is only possible if people accept that the charges before the courts are nothing but cheap propaganda headed by M’membe and Nchito.
Amalume tapapata spare us. You are very old now. I know you also want to die while in power so you are granted that honor of funnel processions which is not good for the sake of the Zambian people. Stay away. You cant win an election. people rejected you already.
Nevers Sakwila Mumba has clearly warned that there is no vacancy in the MMD for Presidency. Azabwera kuti? Let him sit and nurse his young wife at home.
A banda has been paid to create confusion in MMD. Let him bring his on to answer charges before he can join politics. By the way what is your budget for chitenge materials for the trees this time?
If I were you Mr. Banda, I would keep myself away from politics. Remember, if you come back into active politics, we shall terminate all state benefits you are currently enjoying. When you lose, we shall not reinstate the benefits. Think twice before you are made to cry again.
RB you had your chance by some rare stroke of luck but you squandered it. Use your retirement pay on nursing Thandiwe. You are clearly past your prime. “Opportunity knocks, but only once”
The only ‘move’ you should make, RB, is back to the farm.
Let RB come back into politics so that we can ask him in public why he killed those people. In terms of the qualities of being human, RB is the only human being I can think of that can make me vote for Sata again if he was still alive just to make sure he loses again. Now with Sata gone and PF full of monkeys on two legs, only HH takes my vote and HH will get my vote. PF will have enough voters from its tribe, they don’t need my vote – HH is my man now.
AH AH!! No more recycled politicians!! Zambia needs to move on to the path of multilateral development, which can only be achieved by an educated president and a strategic cabinet team of ministers!!!! No more old guards!!!
Please RB we love you the way you and what you are doing now to calm and guide us but not you coming back. there was no need to say I will make my stand when mourning is over. the only statement expected from you RB is to say “am enjoying my retirement” that so. Please do not bring shame on yourself stay away.
A Banda aba ndiwo just rot at the farm
Our dear Thandi has been in hospital in South Africa for two months. Mambala never said anything. Why now???? Sympathy votes offcourse!!.
If I were you RB, I would go to the farm and relax. With a secure pension for life, a beautiful young wife at your side, a vast number of grand kids to entertain you, unlimited barrels of whisky and other miscellaneous liquor, what more can a man of 78 want?
Sir please don’t come back. Don’t take away the respect we have for you when you handed over power after losing.
Like we even care to know. Old man please just sit back and enjoy your retirement as opposed to thinking Zambians even care what your plans are. Don’t bore us RB
My humble advice to Mr. Banda is to stay put in his retirement, take care of the health of his young wife and his own too. He is a senior now and will just be stressed by the requirements to perform as a president in contemporary Zambia. He played his part, made mistakes and excelled in some areas . He must be seen to be promoting young people to take leadership in Zambia because they are concerned about Zambia 50 years from now and beyond. Mr. Banda must start writing his memoirs.
iTS BETTER KAUNDA COMES BACK FIRST SO THAT HE DIES IN OFFICE, THEN WE TAKE ON NYAMASOYA after all former presidents die in OFFICE AND embassy park full, then we revert to ONE PARTY PARTICIPATORY STATE
….there are Three ‘main’ parties in Zed…MMD, PF and UPND……….FDD and NAREP are on the bench…and the rest are in the terraces…..
…confusion is rocking the ruling party…..RB’s announcement to return to active politics will definitely drive a hot wedge in the former ruling party. UPND shall be spared for now but I can foresee ‘trouble’ if HH does not perform to expectation in 90 days….Its time NAREP, FDD started warming up for a possible substitute….
Let him waste his money. He can never win. He wants Henry to swan back into the country and steal more money. By the time he is kicked out again Henry will be a trillionaire (in pounds)….not happening. Give all your undivided attention to your wife, this is when she really NEEDS you.
I want this man to hear this . Rupiah Banda ushered in Sata and PF because he mismanaged MMD. He wanted to create a political dynasty and harrassed the political pillars of MMD then like Magande , Masebo , Mulongoti , VJ and others. He messed up himself and must continue to live in fantancy. Banda go the farm. I expect you to announce loudly this move of going to the farm. In the polical field you are a bye gone.
WE DONT AN OLDMAN THIS TIME,BANDA STAY HOME AND NYOPOLA TYALA WEWO,SO SELFISH AND VERY SHAMEFULL ZAMBIANS LEARN WAT CAN HE OFFER THAT HE DIDNT OFFER US,CORUPTION
RB’s comment is a direct insult to Zambians. Zambia is not shot of intelligent leaders. Please keep away from politics. A leopard can never change its spots.
RB has a democratic right. There is no problem with his age. Highly qualified as an economist and we saw the stability in the economy. All the comments that are negative is sheer fear knowing that the man can sweep them clean. Talk of corruption, who is not corrupt after all. Welcome back Sir. Tuka vota. After all PF will be killing each other. The only two people I can vote for is either RB and HH, and my votes count
Mr Banda, please stay out of politics. It would be very foolish to be campaigning while your wife is sick in SA and potentially dying. I get upset when I see old men like you clinging onto power. We rejected you in 2011 and you cannot turn back the clock.
Let RB come back and I will be the first person to cast my vote on his ticket…. He can do better as we saw in his first term. We support u Mr. Former President and we surely miss your leadership. Come back faster and this time leave the MMD alone, but sign an agreement with Chipimo to allow u stand on NAREP ticket and then retire in 2016 to pave way for the young and vibrant Leader in Chipimo……..Just u being in office for 1 year wont be bad!!!
He thinks it is a sign; last time he was catapulted to the position by the death of a president; he thinks luck repeats itself! I am afraid not. That window was so narrow that this time there is just a slit enough to push one young, energetic somebody to plot 1. It will be agonizing for those that biology does not favor any longer…
OUR POLITICIAS ARE BORINGLY PREDICTABLE IN THE WAY THEY EXPRESS THEIR INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR POWER. THEY USUALLY SAY ONE OF TWO THINGS, “IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO WANT ME. WHO AM I TO DENY THE PEOPLE’S WISH.”. OR THEY SAY “I HAVE CONSULTED MY FAMILY AND HAVE ALSO CONSULTED WIDELY, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO.”
Mr. Banda! our former Head of State! You wanted to give KK International Airport in the hands of Turkey for a long period of time, that we can’t manage as Zambians.
I also hear you wanted to sell governmentschools! What more do you want to missmanage in our country?
You played your rore.
Stay away or else you will be seriously bruised. PF by nature are more thuggish than your William Banda. Don’t say you were not warned.
RB, we know its your constitutional right to stand for president if you so wish, but for goodness sake we do not want you back. Enjoy your retirement, we do not want to be burying another president before his term is over.